FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

He Loves You And Me (Holiday 12101) 1976

Hippie folk/psych sounds don’t get any better than they do on this highly creative custom from the Dana Point, California foursome Fruit Of The Spirit. A unique style that artfully combines dreamy flute and violin passages with skillful 6 and 12-string acoustic guitar work, electric bass and hypnotic bongo percussion. As for the “psych” angle, that comes from the moody mysterious textures, not just from the instruments, but also by way of the delicate surreal male/female harmonies. Comparisons aren’t leaping out at me, but if I had to grasp for something I’d go with the acoustic side of Whitsuntide Easter (if this were a UK release they’d call it “progressive folk”). The songwriting is top-notch throughout, whether brisk folk-rock expressions like ‘Come To Him’, ‘Won’t You Hear’ and ‘As I Look’ or penetrating minor-key ballads such as ‘The Rising Son’, ‘In The Beginning’ and ‘Jesus I Love You’. Even a lighthearted country fiddle number like ‘Tell Me Why’ comes through with an edge. All eleven tracks are strong. Great homemade cover art to match. Five stars easily for this masterful work of art. (The Archivist, 4th edition by Ken Scott).